Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Rhode Island Makes 10 (Plus D.C.)

The Rhode Island Senate just voted 26-12 to approve marriage
equality, guaranteeing that The Ocean State will be the 10th state to
allow same-sex couples to legally marry. Because the Senate made some
revisions to the bill, it still requires a final passage in the Rhode
Island House, which will likely happen by early next week. Back in
January, it passed easily there by an overwhelming 51-19 vote. Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) has promised to sign the bill.

The Senate had previously been the bill’s primary obstacle. In 2011,
Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (D) refused to let the Senate vote on
the marriage equality bill passed that year by the House. Though she
still opposes it, advocates have applauded her for not using her leadership position to block its advance this year. All five Republicans in the Senate also came out in support of the bill this week.